Nation's Report Card Scores Down

October 30, 2015

The Nation's Report Card's recently released the results of an assessment of 279,000 fourth-graders and 273,00 eighth-graders representing both public and private schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity.

National mathematics scores declined in both 4th and 8th grades for the first time since the early 1990s.

For 8th graders, the national average scores in both mathematics and reading were lower than in 2013.

Only in one state was the average 8th grade reading score higher than in 2013.

The reading gap between large city schools and the national average decreased from a difference of 15 points to 8 points since 2003.

Comparing 2015 to 2013, students eligible for the National School Lunch Program and identified with a learning disability had scores higher in grade 4 but lower in grade 8.

Achievement levels also varied by race. Those performing at a proficient level or above in grade 4 were either Asian (57 percent) or white (46 percent) while black and Hispanic students only had 18 percent and 21 percent of students, respectively, above proficient.